Отель с привидениями

           Wouldyouliketoseeher?’

           Agnesacceptedtheproposal,inthefainthopeofgettingsomeinformationforthecourier’swife.ThecompletedefeatofeveryattempttotracethelostmanhadbeenacceptedasfinalbyMrs.Ferrari.Shehaddeliberatelyarrayedherselfinwidow’smourning;andwasearningherlivelihoodinanemploymentwhichtheunweariedkindnessofAgneshadprocuredforherinLondon.ThelastchanceofpenetratingthemysteryofFerrari’sdisappearanceseemedtorestnowonwhatFerrari’sformerfellow-servantmightbeabletotell.Withhighly-wroughtexpectations,AgnesfollowedherfriendintotheroominwhichMrs.Rollandwaswaiting.

           Atallbonywoman,intheautumnoflife,withsunkeneyesandiron-greyhair,rosestifflyfromherchair,andsalutedtheladieswithsternsubmissionastheyopenedthedoor.Apersonofunblemishedcharacter,evidently—butnotwithoutvisibledrawbacks.Bigbushyeyebrows,anawfullydeepandsolemnvoice,aharshunbendingmanner,acompleteabsenceinherfigureoftheundulatinglinescharacteristicofthesex,presentedVirtueinthisexcellentpersonunderitsleastalluringaspect.Strangers,onafirstintroductiontoher,wereaccustomedtowonderwhyshewasnotaman.

           ’Areyouprettywell,Mrs.Rolland?’

           ’IamaswellasIcanexpecttobe,mylady,atmytimeoflife.’

           ’IsthereanythingIcandoforyou?’

           ’Yourladyshipcandomeagreatfavour,ifyouwillpleasespeaktomycharacterwhileIwasinyourservice.Iamofferedaplace,towaitonaninvalidladywhohaslatelycometoliveinthisneighbourhood.